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Once players attain Gold 3 rank in Marvel Rivals‘ Competitive mode during Season 2, they have the ability to collaborate with their team to ban specific heroes before the match begins. The most frequently banned characters in Season 2 indicate potential strategies and counters that teams should consider if those heroes are not banned. Understanding which characters receive the most votes for bans can enable teams to optimize their lineups effectively.
Character bans require teamwork, as every player who votes has a chance to block a specific hero from being selected in the match. Recent updates to Season 2 have altered the ban phase mechanics. Previously, bans were restricted to players in Diamond Rank and above, but now, Season 2 allows bans starting from Gold 3 rank.
What Are Bans In Marvel Rivals’ Competitive Mode?
Exclude Characters Before The Match Starts
When a match begins at Gold Rank or higher, without any Bronze or Silver players, there’s a phase where all six participants can pre-select their characters. Following that, during the Hero Ban phase, both teams vote to exclude two characters from the match. Teams have a limited timeframe to decide, often resulting in the bans of more dominant “meta” heroes.
While you can communicate through voice chat about preferred heroes and ban choices, you can also indicate your preferences by selecting characters during the pre-phase, allowing their silhouettes to appear instead.
Once the pre-selection phase concludes, each participant can choose one character to vote for a ban. If all teammates select the same hero, that character is guaranteed to be banned for both teams. If a variety of characters are voted for, each will have a percentage chance of being banned by the end of the phase.
The more votes a character receives, the higher the probability they will be banned. The process for determining bans follows a specific sequence. Here’s how both teams select their two banned characters:
- Hero Pre-Selection starts, allowing players to share their character preferences.
- Both teams vote on a character for ban.
- Both teams’ ban picks are then revealed.
- Each team selects another character to ban.
- The second ban choices are revealed.
Typically, the characters that players choose to ban follow recognizable patterns. Some bans may occur due to a character specialist on the opposing team, eliminating a strong pick from their lineup. Other considerations may include the power of a character’s ultimate ability or their effectiveness against a specialized hero on your team; however, bans frequently arise from perceptions of overarching strength during the season.
Every Top Ban Choice In Marvel Rivals Season 2
Discover The Characters Players Want To Avoid
After numerous buffs and nerfs in Season 2, the top banned characters in Competitive matches have changed. The addition of new heroes and adjustments to existing ones have shifted team compositions, impacting who players are eager to keep out of matches.
The table below illustrates the most frequently banned characters across various Competitive Ranks. Some other characters may also get banned more often than others:
|
Rank |
Most Banned Characters |
Other Common Bans |
|---|---|---|
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Gold |
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Platinum |
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Diamond |
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Grandmaster |
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Celestial (and above) |
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As noted, each rank showcases a particular set of characters frequently banned. Many of the heavily banned characters in Season 2 possess exceptionally strong defensive or offensive skills or formidable Team-Up abilities in Marvel Rivals. Heroes linked to the “dive” or “anti-dive” metas tend to be consistently banned due to their capacity to shape team strategies.
Additional characters not mentioned in this table, such as Rocket Raccoon and Mister Fantastic, have also seen significant buffs in Season 2. Characters deemed as “overpowered” or “strong” by the community receive the most ban votes, so public perception is crucial.
How To Counter Top Ban Picks In Marvel Rivals
Strategies For Strong Characters That Aren’t Banned
With bans reflecting the most powerful heroes currently in the game, it’s essential to know how to counter popular characters in case your team opts to ban someone else. Some heroes often become high profile targets for opposing teams, especially when they synergize well together. For instance, the combination of Hulk and Namor typically results in one or both of these characters being banned to prevent that team composition.
Generally, limiting bans to only two characters means some potent combinations will still appear in Competitive matches. By understanding which characters usually get restricted, you can prepare to counter those who remain.
The table below presents a selection of the most frequently banned characters in Competitive mode, their roles, and potential counter strategies:
|
Commonly Banned Character |
Role |
How To Counter |
Best Counter Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Groot |
Vanguard |
Utilize high DPS characters to break through Groot’s walls. Avoid heroes vulnerable to being isolated by his structures. |
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|
Spider-Man |
Duelist |
Ensure your team includes at least one character who can defend others or lock down Spider-Man as he dives in. Stun abilities can effectively neutralize this fragile hero. |
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Hulk |
Vanguard |
Due to Hulk’s limited attack range, use long-range damage dealers to isolate him and chip away at his health quickly. High DPS characters excel against Hulk. |
|
|
Iron Fist |
Duelist |
Like Spider-Man, Iron Fist excels at engaging enemy teams but boasts more defensive options. Lure him into unfavorable situations, while protecting your targeted allies. |
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|
Commonly Banned Character |
Role |
How To Counter |
Best Counter Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The Human Torch |
Duelist |
Given his flying nature and low mobility, employ long-range, high-speed characters to defeat The Human Torch swiftly. |
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Emma Frost |
Vanguard |
Emma is particularly effective in defending against “dive” characters, so counter her with bulkier heroes or aerial characters that stay outside her attacking range. |
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Namor |
Duelist |
Continuously target Namor’s squid turrets. Aggressively pressure him with offensive characters to deplete his survival abilities quickly. |
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Wolverine |
Duelist |
Since Wolverine targets Vanguards, employ characters with strong defensive capabilities to prevent him from reaching your team members. |
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Hela |
Duelist |
With strong long-range offensive capabilities, characters that dive in on her or heroes with high health can disrupt her effectiveness on the battlefield. |
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By understanding how to counter the most frequently banned characters, you’ll be better prepared for matches where those heroes are allowed. The top banned heroes in Marvel Rivals Season 2 may shift with future updates, including potential adjustments in Season 2.5 and the introduction of Ultron, so remain adaptable and ready for changes ahead.





